Further Reading

The Italian Red Cross made the request in the wake of an earthquake just 65 miles from Rome, measuring 6.2 on the Richter Scale which has so far claimed more than 240 lives, and left dozens of people potentially still trapped beneath the rubble.

Easy access to Wi-Fi is essential to the rescuers who have been hampered by damage to mobile networks in the chaos.

More than 4,300 rescue workers are at the scene near the ruined villages of Amatrice, Accumoli, and Pescara del Tronto, using heavy machinery and their bare hands to help dig people out from the wreckage.

The earthquake struck in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Amatrice is the hardest-hit, with nearly 200 confirmed casualties, though all three villages are now in ruins. Many of the dead and injured are Italian tourists. The region is a popular holiday destination.